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6 and 10 Day Races 2017: the full report from Sahishnu

By Rupantar LaRussoauthor bio »

5 May, 2017

About the author:

Rupantar has been the race director of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team since 1985, having been asked by Sri Chinmoy to serve in that capacity. As well as working on the big races the US Marathon Team organise each year - the 3100 Mile Race and the Six and 10 Day Race - he also spends a considerable amount of time archiving the Marathon Team's 40 year history on this website.

Now that the 2017 edition of this year's race is finished, race director Sahishni Sczesiul takes some time to recap the highs and lows of this unique multiday race.

The 22nd Annual Sri Chinmoy Ten Day Race started on Monday, April 17 at noon, as 34 athletes left the cozy confines of their houses and apartments in various foreign countries (over 20) to do battle with 240 hours of running, nature’s elements and moving forward. The venue was the certified one-mile loop north of Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Igor Mudryk from Vinnitsa, Ukraine was the highest ranked individual, with a few races over 700 miles for 10 days, as well as a fabulous finish of 3100 miles in 2011 (45+ days!!). Jesper Olsen from Denmark was one of the world’s most unique runners, having completed two attempts of running ‘around the world’, feats that have been documented and shared with other runners. He also had extensive multi-day races to his credit. Perhaps a new rising star of super-long distance was Mongolian Budjargal Byambaa who hinted at very good fitness and a desire to join the elite of long races. The ladies field featured several runners capable of close to 600 miles for 10 days, including Ukrainian Nataliya Hlushchuk, also from Vinnitsa Ukraine, and Slovakian Vinati Docziova from Kosice. Canadian Kimberley Van Delst was also considered a favorite due to her brisk running style from 2016 and improved training.

The men roared off the line with Budjargal Byambaa setting a quick pace. After a few laps, Igor Mudryck and Jesper Olsen bothered to chase the Mongolian as he cruised through the first 50km in a little over 5 hours. Igor was only 3 minutes behind Budjargal. By the time the 24-hour mark approached, Mr Byambaa had seized the lead and reached 108 miles, smoothly and efficiently. Igor Mudryk took a few breaks in the early hours but still reached 91 miles. Jesper was satisfied with 80 miles, and content to parse his energy. Kimberley Van Delst found her way to the front after a few hours, and was shrugging her shoulders when queried as to how well she was running. All smiles was her reply. By the end of the day, she had reached 80 miles, with Russian Elena Kareva (77 miles) and Nataliya Hlushchuk (75) staying close.

The very first 10 day Race in 1996 was won by Georgs Jermolajevs from Riga, Latvia, with a distance of 725 miles (1176.7 km). 21 years later, Georgs started this year again, at age 74. Australian legend Dipali Cunningham finished close to Georgs with 723 miles in that first contest - she would go on to win the Sri Chinmoy Six Day Race, (added in 1998) a record 18 straight times.

The 48-hour mark showed the trend of good runners rising to the top of the standings. Budjargal Byambaa was now in control of the race with 189 miles at the 2-day break. He was still running at 4.5 to five miles per hour, with little sign of fatigue. His lead had swelled to nearly 30 miles. By Day 3, Jesper Olsen had pulled even with Igor Mudryk with a 70-mile day, and had actually gained back over 10 miles to the lead of Mr. Byambaa. But Day 4 saw a resurgence for Budjargal, as he rattled off 73 miles and continued to run quickly and efficiently. Jesper could not sustain the speed that Budjargal possessed. Only Igor Mudryk could even consider keeping up with the Mongolian champion.

The end of the fourth day also signaled the beginning of the 20th Annual Sri Chinmoy Six Day Race. An equal number of runners - 34 - moved forward to join their fellow runners on the one-mile loop. Heavy favorite, and four-time winner of the Six Day race, Ashprihanal Aalto, was there, with American John Geesler and other North Americans, as well as several Eastern Europeans, some who were novices but ready to experience 144 hours of running and becoming. Vikena Yutz, the defending women’s champ was back, as well as New Zealander Kim Allan, a national class 24-hour runner. By the end of the first day for the Sixers, John Geesler had a slim 2-mile lead over Ashprihanal Aalto, and Kim Allan had an 18-mile separation over Vikena Yutz.

The start of the 6-day race

In the Ten Day race, the six day splits verified the race - Budjargal has reached 456 miles, his best total for that distance by over 100 miles. Igor equaled 425 miles. No other runners topped 400 miles. Nataliya Hlushchuk held a slim 2 mile lead over Kimberley Van Delst, 342 to 340 miles.

The 48-hour splits for the Six Day people showed Kim Allan still leading by almost 20 miles, but Kiwi Susan Marshall claiming third place and on the rise in effort. By the end of three days, Vikena had closed to within 16 miles of first, but leg and foot injuries were causing her much pain and anxiety. She tried to rest a lot on the evening of the fourth day, but dropped from the race when the pain was too much. On the other hand, Susan Marshall was running better, and had closed the gap to Kim Allan from 30 miles to 14. Ashprihanal Aalto had assumed the overall lead in the Six Day after 48 hours with 180 miles, which proved to be enough cushion for the race. He and John Geesler stayed well ahead of the rest of the field.

In the Ten Day, Budjargal Byambaa was emerging as a star runner. He eclipsed his personal best (601 miles) before the end of Day 8 with 605 miles, and fashioned an insurmountable lead over second place of 40 miles. To his credit, Igor Mudryk pulled back a few miles in the last two days, but Budjargal had become the star of the race, overcoming any obstacle, and still staying above 67 miles the last seven days of the event. Budjargal also announced his ascendency in world rankings, becoming the first Mongolian to pass 1000km (8:09:41:10); first Mongolian to 700 miles (9:07:45:18), and first Mongolian winner of the Sri Chinmoy Ten Day Race - 739 miles (1189.305 km). His 138-mile improvement for 10 days is highly noteworthy, and places him fifth-ranked for best totals in the Ten Day history. If pushed he could have easily done more. At 35 years of age, he has a lot of talent and heart to reveal. (Photo: Budjargal right)

Igor Mudryk reached his personal best for 10 days with 713 miles, a couple better than his effort from 2009. Jesper Olsen held on to the last podium spot with 627 miles. There were several other personal bests in the men’s group, most notably Ales Pliva of the Czech Republic topping 600 miles for the first time (609), up from 534 miles, and 10-time Ten Day finisher Michel Gouin of Drummondville, Quebec, Canada making it 11 straight finishes – all eleven have been over 500 miles!

On the ladies side, Nataliya Hlushchuk won for the second time with 578 miles, a solid effort throughout, and as consistent as ever. Vinati Docziova ran 74 miles on the last day to lead all the ladies to the finish line as she finished second. Kimberley Van Delst held on for third with age-group Canadian records for six days, seven days and 10 days.

In the Six Day, Ashprihanal Aalto won the race for the fifth time. He totaled 441 miles on a gimpy knee and not a lot of training. True it was far short of his best 6-day of 505 miles, but he was still happy to share the park roads of Flushing Meadows with so many runners, going day and night to chase their dreams. John Geesler again finished second with 425 miles, and didn’t seem worse for wear after the race. He slept in his truck to avoid the rains that fell for a few of his days on the course. Aleksei Riabikov from Russia made the men’s podium with a fine first-time six-day effort of 377 miles. Through an interpreter he said the race gave him much satisfaction.

The women’s final results were a big surprise as Susan Marshall averaged 71 miles for each of the last three days to garner the victory with 408 miles, her first win. Her mileage was third best overall in the Six Day. Kim Allan held on to second place among the women with 364 miles, and Russian treasure Vera Kalishmanova, 61, from Volgograd, reached 332 miles and her second podium finish in three tries.

As the dust settles and the injuries heal, the runners have returned to their countries to bask in the glory or cope with the pain of recovery from injury. Yet, the undeniable feeling that we here in New York have after these two events have ended is one of gratitude for all the experiences - good or bad - that have been shared by runners and helpers alike. The sport of mult-day racing continues around the world. The many volunteers, helpers, professionals and organizers all agree- these races founded and nurtured by Sri Chinmoy over the decades give us hope and a glimpse of human potential. The energy at Sri Chinmoy Races is special. The runners’ ability to deal with everything over a period of 10 or 6 days and to reap satisfaction of any kind is a cause for celebration, and a small iota of perfection.

Sahishnu Takes a Breath and Summarizes the Races So Far!

By Rupantar LaRussoauthor bio »

29 April, 2010

About the author:

Rupantar has been the race director of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team since 1985, having been asked by Sri Chinmoy to serve in that capacity. As well as working on the big races the US Marathon Team organise each year - the 3100 Mile Race and the Six and 10 Day Race - he also spends a considerable amount of time archiving the Marathon Team's 40 year history on this website.

Day 4
It might be spring but the Ten Day competition has heated up as Yuri Trostenyuk assumed the lead by four miles after a 69 mile day, over previous leader Volodymyr Hlushchuk. Igor Mudryk, also from the city of Vinnitsa in Ukraine that gives us Yuri T., had the best day with 75 miles. Kaneenika Janakova, the defending women's champ, moved into second overall- only three miles behind the gents.Fred Davis III has been holding onto fourth place for a few days with a strong and consistent running gait. Jayasalini Abramovskikh has remained in second place and matched Kaneenika step for step the last 36 hours, but somehow cannot gain ground on the lanky champion. The cool evenings and sunny, clear days have allowed the runners to stay on track- however, rain looms on the weekend that might carry into most of next week. Another test for our heroes of the pavement- and that is what they expect. Four men are battling for fifth place and higher, as competition is igniting dormant or hidden talents in many of the competitors.And with more than half the race remaining, things are getting interesting.

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From Sahishnu's Notepad, Day 5

By Rupantar LaRussoauthor bio »

29 April, 2010

About the author:

Rupantar has been the race director of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team since 1985, having been asked by Sri Chinmoy to serve in that capacity. As well as working on the big races the US Marathon Team organise each year - the 3100 Mile Race and the Six and 10 Day Race - he also spends a considerable amount of time archiving the Marathon Team's 40 year history on this website.

With the addition of the Six Day field igniting the flames of speed and stamina, our heroes of the Ten did glide along with a certain purpose today.Yuri Trostenyuk ran 69 miles to remain in front of the other 28 runners, but his grasp on first is giving way to the onslaught of Igor Mudryk, his friend and compatriot from Ukraine. Mr Mudryk sliced his way through tired signs of his own fatigue to garner 74 miles on a sunny,breezy weekend . The palpable energy helped Kaneenika Janakova remain far ahead of her competitors with another 69 mile day. She also creeped up to Yuri T.- only 3 miles separate the two leaders of the race.

Meanwhile, the start of the Six Day revealed speed in abundance on the men’s side. Newcomer Alex Swenson wisked his tall, thin frame around the loop with precision reaching 108 miles for the first 24 hours. He was four miles clear of American 48-hour record holder John Geesler and seven ahead of twelve-time champion Dipali Cunningham. Dipali is the undisputed Queen of Flushing Meadows. This park is the site of numerous records and overall triumphs by the thin Australian woman, who last year turned 50 but shows no signs of slowing down. The rest of the field did their best to stay close, but with diminishing returns. Swenson and Geesler are speed merchants in a sport of turtles, but also possess stamina and the will to maintain. Dipali, on the other hand, is a relentless runner who always seeks to find new ways to push herself, even without competition. The race for 144 hours should be an intriguing story as it unfolds lap by lap. Stay Tuned!!!

Sahishnu Recaps the Race, Day 7

By Rupantar LaRussoauthor bio »

27 April, 2010

About the author:

Rupantar has been the race director of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team since 1985, having been asked by Sri Chinmoy to serve in that capacity. As well as working on the big races the US Marathon Team organise each year - the 3100 Mile Race and the Six and 10 Day Race - he also spends a considerable amount of time archiving the Marathon Team's 40 year history on this website.

Like a good soufflé, the cream rises, steadily and unerringly. Kaneenika Janacova ,two-time defending women’s champion in the Ten Day race, whipped another day of 64 miles to take the overall lead by seven miles. What is most special about that day total is that she and her cohorts ran throughout the day of rain and the night of cold rain, punctuated by a spectacular thunderstorm that flooded everything in sight in Flushing Meadows Park. The men crept behind, led by Yuri Trostenyuk, with 487 miles,who keeps holding the lead from his other male counterparts , and Igor Mudryk, with 480 miles. Volodymyr Hluyshchuk is at 412 miles but is feeling the heat from young Mykhailo Ukrainsky who lurks only nine miles behind. Back on the distaff side, Jayasalini Abramovskikh has garnered 462 miles but feels pressure from behind by the multiday rookie Manjula Boehler of Austria, who is running a fine race so far with 445 miles

In the companion Six Day, Alex Swenson fromVashon,Washington has the three-day lead with 245 miles, closely followed by Dipali Cunningham, (243 miles)the perennial women’s champion who seeks to win the race overall again. In a bid for the top tiers sit two 3100 mile runners, Vladimir Balatskyy and Smarana Puntigam, both residents of Austria, who remain at 224 miles and 214 miles, respectively. At this point in the race six men and one woman are over 200 miles completed, with less than half the race remaining. With yet another 36 hours of rain expected, our heroes from both races must summon the willpower to continue on and fight the good fight. Yet, the outer race is still in question, the final places yet to be determined.

1982: Not One, But Two Races

By Sahishnu Szczesiul

31 October, 1982

Reminisces from Sahishnu Sczesiul...

The third running of the Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour Race took place on September 25-26, 1982 on the same cinder and dirt Havenmeyer Track located behind the current town hall of the affluent city of Greenwich, CT. The field that year was limited to 40 very good runners, seeking their fortunes in an ultra pursuit that was gaining a bit of popularity in the country. The list of attendees was filled three months before the start. At that time new full day adventures were popping up in the Midwest, Southwest and west coast, so we were fortunate to have another great group of athletes take the challenge.

The two main principles in the 1981 race were back for more adventure. Cahit Yeter from the Bronx was focused on advancing his North American title with even higher mileage. Silver medalist Ron Bomberger from Mannheim, PA was finely trained and looking to chase Mr. Yeter all the way this time. Jim Roser, 51, from Beaver Falls, PA had his sights set on at least a podium finish, his age-group record would subsequently be transcended. Sterling, Virginia native Ed Foley, 33, had considered the race a perfect spot to contend for a 150- mile episode. And newly crowned world record holder Sue Medaglia, 47, Bronx, NY was even in better shape than she thought possible.

The cool morning start gave way to late summer warmth and periodic clouds as the field stayed in tact for the first several hours. Cahit Yeter made a move to stay out in front in his focused pursuit. Jim Roser tried to match the leaders with reasonable lap splits but found himself weak and unable to handle the deceptive heat and humidity. After 38+ miles, the masters juggernaut gave up and drove home. Apparently his wife was later shocked to see him home a day earlier than expected. But, as some often say, there is always another day.

The depth of the field was striking. There were many runners attempting a 24-hour race for the first time, yet they brought such solid credentials from testing themselves up to 100 miles that the possibility of equaling the record of 24 runners past 100 miles was virtually in play.

As the sun began its decent into night, the race picked up intensity. Mr Yeter kept a brilliant pace, working his way around the remaining 33 runners after a few defected from the race. Just before 2:00am Cahit Yeter reached 200km in 17:44:27, knocking nearly 25 minutes off his previous national record. Soon after that he pulled off the track and went into his tent for a long rest. At this time Ed Foley had moved into second place, Ron Bomberger held third, and Paul Soskind from Brooklyn and Neil Weygandt from Ardmore, PA came close at fourth and fifth position. All four men eventually reached Yeter’s mileage totals and assumed positions one through four. Sue Medaglia resembled a machine, smooth strides and continual movement showing a tremendous steadiness. She passed her own national record at the 200 km mark by just over four minutes, reaching it in 23:36:42.

When the whistle blew, the sand bags were dropped, and the courageous athletes came to halt. Whether exhilaration or disappointment or shear pain showed on their faces, once again great triumphs had occurred by being there, on the track, for a whole day. Fully 20 runners had clicked past 100 miles. At least 15 people had set personal bests, at least 3 national records at various distances were created.

Ed Foley, in his first 24-hour, finished first with 143 miles, 238 yards. His steadiness and good speed for nearly all the race were a pleasant surprise to him as well as us. Ed’s run became the top US performance for the year at 24 hours. Ed had moved from sixth place at halfway to first at the end. Ron Bomberger again finished second with 135 miles, 255 yards, but you had to admire his focus and consistency, especially during the late afternoon heat. Paul Soskind finished third with 134 miles, 81 yards, a great redemption from last year’s dropout after a few miles.

Sue Medaglia missed her national and former world 24-hour record by less than 500 yards, reaching the whistle-blow with 126 miles, 256 yards. And Marvin Skagerberg reached 118 miles, 471 yards to cop a national mark for age group 40-44.

*****

It was not exactly clear when a second Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour Race for the following month was announced, but Sri Chinmoy and the organizers from the SCMT gave runners another chance, since some runners were not able to attend the September race due to space limitations. Eighteen athletes came to the cinder track at Francis Lewis High School on a cool morning in Springfield Gardens, Queens. Within the field of 18, eleven runners had run the previous month’s event, some at an especially hard effort. One would think that it would be remarkable to toe the line again so soon after such a difficult race- just 5 weeks prior.

Jim Roser, the Beaver Falls, PA native, was a prime suspect. He had pointed to the September race in Greenwich as the prime target for the year, and had even taken vacation time to accommodate the race in his family and work lives. His problem with that 24-hour was intense afternoon heat and dehydration. He barely made it 38 miles, the first dropout of three ‘favorites’.

The October race was a different story. Moderate temps in the early going allowed good paced running sections for many people in the morning and afternoon. And having two or three ‘fast’ athletes at the head of the group would set an honest pace, or better. Arguably one of the fleetest ultra runners in the four-state area was Stu Mittleman, the NYRRC 100 Mile Champ and record holder. Stu hammered out a 6:27:02 for the 50 miles. Some will recall that Stu won our inaugural Sri Chinmoy 70 Mile Race in early November 1981, beating a strong field around the nearly 3-mile road course at Rockland Lake State Park in upstate NY. Cahit Yeter was also doing the back-to-back 24-hour journey, having run all three previous Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour runs. Cahit was 12 minutes arrears of Stu Mittleman at the 50-mile split. Former world and current American 24-hour and 200km champ Sue Medaglia was also on the track, with three runners total representing the ladies. She was over an hour behind Stu, still dressed in singlet and shorts as the late fall chill started to creep into the area. Cahit Yeter was only five minutes behind Stu at 100 km. Stu Mittlemen stopped just before 100 miles to change clothes, but then went into his tent for nearly two hours. Cahit reached the 100-mile time in a careful 16:29:34. He took a long break, affected by the cold air and the effort put forth.

Jim Roser had paced himself well and somehow assumed first place on the scoreboard. He reached 100 miles in 17:44:54, scarcely 70 seconds ahead of Sue Medaglia, with both of them now ahead of the faster Mittleman and Yeter. Sue tried hard to stay close to Jim Roser, but the veteran felt this was the race he really had inside. With less than an hour to go he hit 200k(23:00:08), and held on for the victory. Sue could not maintain good momentum as a frost had come into the area, with the many helpers chilled almost as much as the runners.

When the horn sounded, Jim Roser had won the race with personal best marks, his 128 miles 531 yards being a 50-54 age-group record, as well as his 200km mark.

Trishul Cherns, 25, the Canadian runner living locally, slipped passed Sue for second place, pushing hard to try to get to 200km. He reached 123 miles, 535 miles to set his own new best. Sue Medaglia hit 122 miles 789 yards, winning the women’s championship and her third straight 24-hour race. John Kenul added another 24 hour to his resume with 119 miles 1562 yards. Howard Poupko ran his best one-day race with 112 miles 832 yards, and Canadian Kanchan Stott set a new national record with her 106 miles 320 yards.

Jim Roser talks about his race as he was interviewed by Nick Marshall.

“ I had to run a long time while he (Mittleman) was sleeping in his tent, just to catch up. About the time my name went into first on the scoreboard, Stu came out to give it another try, but it was futile.

“What a difference a month makes. From last to first. Some strange things happen in ultras, as you well know by now. Sri Chinmoy was thrilled that I won because we’re both the same age, 51.”

*****

This was our fourth 24-hour race in the slightly more than two year journey of sponsoring ultras. Our schedule of having the 70 Mile race, added in 1981, gave more momentum to the longer event, and particularly the September 1981 and 1982 editions were almost like de-facto championships for runners in the US. The future also looked brighter, as there were more and more runners testing the longer races, and bringing attention to the running world. I was excited for the runners coming into the sport, as there seemed to be avenues to express their talent. Meanwhile, in Europe and in Oceana the event was gathering steam.

Sri Chinmoy seemed to really like the ultras and the people associated with them. His philosophy of self-transcendence had found a home in the ultra-marathon world. He also wanted us to keep the ultras in Queens, nearby where many of the helpers lived. Indeed, the September 1982 24-hour event was the last one SCMT ever sponsored in Connecticut.